What to Do If You're Denied Entry to the US at the Airport

Reasons for Denied Entry

Welcome to the United States! However, although you arrived at the airport, Customs and Border Protection has denied you entry into the country.

What can you do to resolve the matter? There are several reasons why a CBP officer may prohibit you from gaining entry to the United States.

The following are the most common reasons for entry denial:

You overstayed your visa and there is a record.

You overstayed the amount of time allowed in the United States on a tourist visa in the past.

You were previously on a tourist visa in the U.S. and applied for a stay extension, but that application was denied.

You were previously on a tourist visa and failed to spend at least six months in your home country when you returned.

You are a legal permanent resident of the U.S. but you lost your green card.

Keep in mind, if you have been denied entry into the U.S. at any point in the past, even if you had an expired passport, the previous rejection can result in future denial. Additionally, it is not often that a traveler is denied entry into the U.S. due to criminal background issues, but this can also result in denial.

What To Do After Being Denied Entry

Upon denial, the most important thing to do is stay calm and composed. Not only will arguing get you nowhere, it will further harm your case.

When you receive the bad news, follow these steps prior to taking any action:

Be patient – Try to avoid having your record officially entered as denied entry and ask for more time to handle the situation.

Ask questions – Determine the reason why you are being denied entry into the country. If your CBP officers are being disrespectful, remain calm and continue to seek answers.

Record the responses – Whether you use a camera or audio recorder on your phone or use a pen and paper, document each the responses to each of your questions.

Gather all of the details – Once you receive a response, check all of your paperwork to go over all the details.

Contact an attorney – Ask if you could call a lawyer, who can provide guidance to get the decision overturned.

At Kanu & Associates, our Phoenix immigration lawyer can work on your case and help you resolve your visa rejection. It is possible that we can find a solution which allows you to stay in the country.

It is best to prevent this type of situation from occurring in the first place. Before heading to the United States, ensure that you have the proper authorization and speak with an attorney to see if there is anything in your past that could cause you to be denied entry into the country.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.